The Best Gaming Speakers Buyers Guide 2020

by Kevin Mortimor

One of the most overlooked but essential components of a gaming setup is a pair of high-quality gaming speakers. After all, what good is having the best graphics available to you if you’re listening to your games on a pair of speakers that produce scratchy, muffled sound?

In addition, a high-quality pair of gaming speakers will also give you an edge when it comes to gameplay, as you’ll be able to hear your enemies coming from miles away.

Like any gaming accessory, knowing the ins and outs of the technology will enable you to get the best set of gaming speakers available. With hundreds, if not thousands, of gaming speakers on the market today, you can narrow down the number of available choices by knowing what specific qualities you’re looking for in a pair of speakers.

Now that you know what you’re looking for, here are some examples of some great gaming speakers that are available to purchase today.

Best Gaming Speakers for PC Gamers

The curvaceous design of the Genius SW-G2.1 2000 2.1 Channel 45 Watts RMS Gaming Woofer Speaker System isn’t just for looks, as it helps both the speakers and the subwoofer deliver a rich sound like you’ve never heard before. The wooden cabinet for the subwoofer helps create a deeper bass than the competition, letting you feel the rumble of every explosion in perfect accuracy. This gaming speaker system also features a standalone control panel, offering not only an easy way to change the volume and power up your speakers but also giving you a convenient way to access the headphone jack and plugging in additional devices. This speaker system is not just good for computers but also for mobile devices as well, including the iPhone and iPad.

The Genius GX-Gaming 5.1 Surround Sound Gaming Speaker System with Remote Control offers everything you love about the Genius 2.1 Gaming Speakers while adding exciting new features. The additional speakers found in this 5.1 gaming speaker setup let you hear the bullets whizzing in every direction while the included remote control lets you adjust the volume without needing to fumble around with the control panel. Like the 2.1 speakers, you can plug in an MP3 player or another audio device directly into the Genius GX-Gaming 5.1 Surround Sound Gaming Speaker System to take advantage of its excellent sound capabilities.

Utilizing metal in their construction, the AVerMedia Ballista Trinity Gaming PC Speakers provide a stunning sound that will enhance the soundtrack of any computer game you’re currently playing. These speakers have everything you’d expect from a high-quality set of speakers, including low levels of bass, a standalone control deck and the ability to mount the speakers on the wall. However, where the AVerMedia Ballista Trinity Gaming PC Speakers truly stand out is with the proprietary Assassin Mode setting. This sound setting gives you everything you’ve come to expect from these speakers, such as low bass and high frequencies, but at a reduced volume that is suitable for late-night gaming or gamers in apartments.

Best Gaming Speakers for Console Gamers

When one subwoofer isn’t enough, you’ll want to check out the Arion Legacy AR506 AC Powered Speaker System, which gives you double the bang for your buck by having two subwoofers. You’ll feel like you were on the battlefield when you’re feeling the bass reverberate through your body in a way that only two subwoofers can provide. These speakers were designed with gamers in mind, providing crisp, clear sounds that will help give you the edge in any multiplayer game. Not only can you use these speakers with your favorite gaming console, but they are also compatible with your PC and mobile devices as well.

If you’re a retro gamer who loves the classics, you know that one of the biggest issues is that those old console games don’t have the capability for surround sound. Even with a set of 5.1 gaming speakers, your classic games will never have the surround sound feel of more modern games. The Logitech X-540 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System with Subwoofer fixes this problem with its built-in Matrix Mode sound setting. By turning Matrix Mode on, you can give new life to your classic games by transforming them from stereo sound to surround sound instantly. The Logitech X-540 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System with Subwoofer has all the features you expect from gaming speakers, such as deep bass and smooth sound, to make your old games sound better than ever.

Gamers with multiple video game consoles will want to check out the Logitech Surround Z506 Sound Speakers. With a variety of inputs in the back of these speakers, you’ll have room for not only your Xbox One and PlayStation 4 but also any future consoles! Just like you’d expect from a set of Logitech speakers, the Logitech Surround Sound Speakers offer a clear 5.1 sound with no distortion and room-filling bass. The subwoofer delivers full bass control that lets you customize your experience; you can crank the bass up to maximum levels while home alone and set it to a low level when you’re gaming at night.

Best Cheap Gaming Speakers (Under $50)

You don’t need to spend tons of money to get a set of speakers with a subwoofer, as proven by the Cyber Acoustics 30 Watt Powered Speakers with Subwoofer. This 3-piece speaker system is magnetically shielded and provides crisp vocals and deep, punchy bass thanks to the speakers being acoustically balanced. The desktop control pod makes it easy to not only change the volume or power up the speakers but also has inputs for your headphones and other devices. With both convenience and great sound under one roof, Cyber Acoustics provides an excellent set of speakers for gamers on a budget.

The Marvo SG-201 Gaming Speakers may be cheap, but they don’t compromise quality for a low price. These speakers are perfect for not only gamers on a budget but gamers without any spare power outlets, as these speakers use a USB cable to plug directly into your computer or gaming system. While there is no standalone subwoofer, each speaker houses a woofer inside of it that is capable of deep bass. Their small size makes them a great fit for even the tightest spots, and their high-density housing means these speakers can take an accidental drop or two and still look good as new.

Like the Marvo SG-201 Gaming Speakers, the GOgroove BassPULSE 2MX 2.0 USB Multimedia Computer Speakers are also a plug and play product: Simply plug them into any available USB slot on your PC and they are ready to go. These speakers not only offer a great sound and an easy-to-access volume control knob, but they also have a look that sets them apart from other gaming speakers. Their unique shape and blue LED lights add a cool factor to your PC setup that will make your friends and family green with envy. When looks are just as important as sound, you’ll want to check out these affordable gaming speakers.

The Dragonwar SP-011G Music Revolution Professional Gaming Speakers look to emulate a 5.1 speaker setup with a traditional 2.1 set of speakers. The Dragonwar Gaming Speakers’ larger-than-average surface size combines both active and passive speakers with proprietary amplifiers to create a 3D sound that you have to hear to believe. This set of speakers also come with anti-noise technology, ensuring that static and distortion won’t interrupt the sweet tunes of your favorite video game.

Five Points to Consider

Do I Need a Subwoofer?

On average, a subwoofer is usually recommended for any set of gaming speakers. Whether you’re playing a first-person shooter with lots of explosions or a role-playing game with a sweeping orchestral score, a subwoofer will give your bass a booming sound that will drastically increase the quality of both sounds and music.

However, if you live in an apartment building, you may want to rethink your choice of purchasing a set of gaming speakers that includes a subwoofer. In many apartment buildings, the rumbling bass noise from a subwoofer will easily travel from one apartment to the other; while you may love the low, rumbling sounds your subwoofer provides, chances are good that your neighbor will not. Likewise, with many apartment buildings having noise restrictions during certain hours, you may find that the subwoofer you paid good money for isn’t even usable if you happen to be a late night gamer.

Luckily, there exists an alternative: gaming speakers that have built-in woofers directly into the speakers. While you won’t get the same deep bass volume as a dedicated subwoofer, you will at least get some degree of bass without worrying about waking up your neighbors.

Wired or Wireless?

Even as recent as a decade ago, this section would consist of just the following sentence: Wireless speakers compromise sound quality for the ability to go wireless, so go with a pair of wired gaming speakers. However, technology has come a long way in recent years, with wireless speakers making vast improvements that put them almost on par with a pair of wired speakers.

However, like all wireless devices, there is still a drop in quality in wireless speakers, albeit a small one. If you’re an audiophile who craves the absolute finest sound quality that money can buy, you’ll want to go with a pair of wired speakers. However, if you’re the type who knows when something sounds good but can’t detect minute differences in sound quality, a pair of wireless speakers will help keep clutter down and give you more freedom in where you can place your gaming speakers.

2.1, 5.1 or 7.1?

Knowing how many channels you want in your gaming speakers may seem a bit daunting and overwhelming but in reality, it’s one of the easiest choices you have to make. If you’re not looking for a subwoofer, you are limited to 2.1, or stereo sound, due to 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound systems having subwoofers by default.

Whether you opt for 5.1 or 7.1 comes down to personal preference. Both options provide full stereo sound, with 7.1 being just a tiny bit richer due to the extra speakers included. If you have space, and more importantly the money, then opt for 7.1; otherwise, a 5.1 surround sound set of gaming speakers will do just fine. Keep in mind that if you’re buying a set of gaming speakers for your PC, finding a set of 7.1 gaming speakers is rare; in these cases, the choice between 2.1 and 5.1 comes down to if you want a subwoofer or not.

How Important are Extra Features?

Once you start checking out midrange and high-end gaming speakers, you’ll start to notice they usually come with a plethora of extra features. Just how important these extra features are depends almost entirely on the needs of the buyer. Here are some of the most common additional features you’ll find packed on with gaming speakers:

• A remote control. Similar to a remote control for your television, a remote control for your gaming speakers will control such features like turning them on and off and changing the volume. If you’re buying a pair of gaming speakers for your computer, a remote control likely isn’t necessary. However, if you’re buying a pair of gaming speakers for a video game console, a remote control is a far better option than having to walk over manually and adjust the settings.

• Advanced audio controls, such as letting you change the level of treble or bass in your speakers. Again, this isn’t that relevant to computer gamers, as your PC has plenty of built-in options for tweaking these settings. However, this is a setting that console gamers will find invaluable.

• The number of inputs that are available. In general, the more inputs available, the better, as you never know when you’ll want to add a new gaming console to your gaming speakers. It’s better to pay a bit more now than buy a brand new set of gaming speakers in the future when you need those extra inputs.

• Mounts. If you’re low on available flat surfaces, mounts that let you attach your speakers to walls and other surfaces are a must. However, if you find a great set of gaming speakers that don’t come with mounts, you can just buy the necessary mounting equipment on the side.

Make Sure You Have Enough Space

Finally, you need to consider your space limitations when looking for a pair of gaming speakers. Naturally, you’re going to want to buy a set of gaming speakers that fits into the space you have selected. For example, don’t buy giant gaming speakers for your computer when you only have a computer desk that has minimal space. Likewise, don’t opt for that giant subwoofer if you have no room under your desk. While you may want the biggest and best gaming speakers money can’t buy, ensure that you can use them by knowing the measurements of where you’re going to place them.

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